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Retirement Speech, February 2008

I want to thank everyone for coming tonight.  I also want to thank Margaret and Dennis for their work in putting this together.  Margaret, I already miss the snacks and chocolate you brought me every day to help me keep up my energy.  I can’t seem to convince Charlene that twinkies are a food group, and that it’s quite normal to have cupcakes for breakfast.  Dennis, I am confident that you will adjust to your new position, and quickly fill my shoes and even surpass the work I did.  In almost 18 years of working at Kroger, I feel a little like a youngster compared to the years that Frank and many of you have spent at Kroger, but I still have done many things during that time.  I have built new stores, expanded existing stores, remodeled stores, and spent countless amounts of money trying to maintain and improve the stores.  There have been many changes over that time.  When I first started with Kroger, we didn’t have personal computers and did all of our project accounting on hand written ledgers.  Now everyone has a desktop computer, and some of you have laptops with wireless internet connections.  I also remember being on the road visiting stores when my pager would go off and I would have to find a pay phone to call back to the office.  Now we have cell phones the size of a credit card that can take pictures, and Blackberries that can receive e-mails and connect to the internet.  But one thing that hasn’t changed, though, is the quality of people at Kroger.  Working with everyone in the Kroger family has made my career not only satisfying and successful, but I can say I really had fun in my job.

As all of you know, I was diagnosed with cancer 5 years ago.  I know that for me, that was not a death sentence, but just a bend in the road and the beginning of a new life.  My outlook on life changed dramatically 5 years ago.  I continued working through all of the surgeries, radiation treatments and chemotherapy.  I did this, even though I didn’t have to and at times was very difficult for me, because I not only enjoyed my job and the people I worked with, but I needed to have something else to focus my attention on besides my cancer.  Life became more precious to me, and I realized that I shouldn’t wait until I retired to enjoy my life and live my dreams.  I also realized that in all areas of my life, I am surrounded by people who love me.  Because of your support and prayers, you have not only helped me to succeed in my job, but you have also helped me to survive my cancer.  For that, I am truly grateful to all of you. 

I would like to show you a short slideshow that I had prepared to show people that no matter what challenges or tragedies we face in life, when there is faith, there is hope.  And we always have an opportunity to live our lives fully.  The first year that I was being treated for cancer, one of my nurses kept telling us that we needed to have something to look forward to when I finished treatments.  As sick as I was, it seemed ridiculous, but I started planning a fishing trip to the AmazonRain Forest in Brazil.  The thrill of being in a foreign land, with it’s own scenery, people and customs caused Charlene and me to become addicted to traveling.  The trips shown on this slideshow are just some of the adventures we have experienced since I was diagnosed with cancer.  But as you watch this, I don’t want you to see a man with cancer, I want you to see a man who is enjoying life, having exciting adventures and 

living his dreams.

Show slideshow

The message that I want to leave you with tonight is simple.  You don’t have to wait until you retire to live your lives.  God created us to experience adventures, excitement and love.  We all need to have fun in our lives and to live our dreams.  Whether it’s fishing, traveling, gardening or playing ball with your kids, you need to enjoy the lives you have today.  I’m not retiring because I’m dying.  All men die, but unfortunately few men ever really live.  I’m retiring because I’m living.  I want to continue my adventures in life with my precious wife.  For me, I may be retiring, but it is really just another bridge I’m crossing in my life, and I am excited about what it will bring.  Remember, life is not problem to be solved, it is an adventure to be experienced.  I love you all.  Thank you.